Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,853, Adam Gillmore, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Gillmore, Adam
S 15,853.
Carded.
CONTENTS

17.327 Vermont
Adam Gillmore
Under an act in the State of Vermont who was a priv at in the Company commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt. commanded by Col Putnam in the Mass. and line for June.
Inscribed on the Roll of Vermont at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 day of Augt. 1833 and sent to E. D. Barber Middlebury
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. $40.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending Sept. 10.00 $50.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832 }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk Book C Vol. 3. Page 11

Declaration of Adam Gilmore
No 1762.

State of Vermont On this 6 th day of July A D 1882 Adrian Bennett (3) Personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of Addison County Court now sitting Adam Gillmore a widower of Panton in the County of Addison and State of Vermont aged sixty nine years who being first duly sworn according to Law deposits on his oath matter the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated (viz) In Capt Bensons Company of Infantry in Colo Putnam Regiment of the Militia of Massachusetts and that he entered into said Bensons Company stationed at Hadley in Massachusetts to serve for the term of six months, that, in the said Adam Gillmore at the time of his enlisting as aforesaid lived in Pelham in Massachusetts that he enlisted on April 1780. and marched from Hadley to West Point in the State of New York through old Hartford in Connecticut when we arrived at West Point we were attached to Gen Vions Brigade - That he was at West Point about one month and then with Gen Vions Brigade marched to Brandy Town in New Jersey and from there on a march to West Point, and as a Sapper who may have been puny and that he served the full term of six months the period of his enlistment and was honorable discharged at West Point aforesaid which discharge being in writing I have since lost

That he moved from Pelhams of Penn after the Revolutionary War to Mansfield Vermont, and from thence to Bristol Vermont about twenty Eight years since and that about two years since he has resided where he now lives in Dapton Vermont. That he has no discharge nor any documentary evidence and that he knows of one person who testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State. Sworn and Subscribed the his Adam Gilmore day and year aforesaid mark E. D. Barber Clerk
We Nathaniel McQuire, Elmer Smith and Thomas Fuller residing in the Town of Dapton in the County of Franklin and State of Vermont hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Adam Gilmore of Dapton aforesaid who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Sixty nine years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Nathaniel McQuire John Smith Thomas Fuller Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid E. D. Barber Clerk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrog- atories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states; and the Court also certify that it has been made to appear to them by competent testimony that Nathaniel McCurry, John Smith and Thomas Ful- mer whose certificates are herewith transmitted are persons of veracity and in- tended to credit
Edward D. Barber Clerk

P 15853 INVALID.
Am
File No. 15853
Adam Gilmore
Pr. Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 143
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Claim of Adam Gilmore
6 ones $ 20 —
Edw D Barber Middlebury vt 6.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
19 April 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.      
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Mr Adam Gilmore

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____, who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
 6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?  { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____; For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

State of Vermont Be it known that before Addison County Be it known me Elias H. Harrison one of the Judges of Addison County Court on the 27 th day of May A D 1838. Personally appeared Holman Gilmore of Panton in the County of Addison and State of Vermont who being first sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain a pension under the Act of June 7 th 1832. in Addition to the one by him made for a pension under said Act on the 6 th day of July A D 1832. That he has no recollection of his age but has always been informed that he was born at Pelham in Massachusetts on the 12 th day of March A D 1768. That at the time of his enlistment in Pelham on and that it was some time in April 1780. that he enlisted as stated before in his declaration and that he marched immediately after his said enlistment from Hadley the place where he enlisted through Old Housatonic to West Point & was there attached to General Washington's Brigade and after staying at West Point one month according to the best of his recollection he then marched to Ticonderoga & Nanytown in New York and was there stationed a few weeks, and all there marched back to West Point, and at the time Major Askin being here he marched to Tappan and was present with some Major Askin here, and that he remained here as a Soldier as aforesaid at West Point until the expiration of the term of his said six months enlistment and that he was honorably discharged at West Point after and that he had a written discharge which he has since lost and that according to the best of his recollection his discharge was dated on some of the first days in November A D 1780. That he well recollects the name of the company of Patriots Regiment to which he belonged which was Scott's

That he appointed some General Washington at West Point and Orange Town. That General Wilson was at West Point and Orange Town and commanded the Brigade during the 10-12 months that he the D Adkins Gilmore was in the Service here and there. his Adkins Gilmore The day of year about month written upon me Vilas H. Jenison Judge of Addison County Court
And I do hereby certify that there is no Plagium finding in the Town of Peters where the said Adkins Gilmore resides Vilas H. Jenison Judge

State of Vermont, Addison County ss
I Samuel Swift, Clerk of the County Court for the said County of Addison, do hereby certify Silas H. Jenison, before whom the foregoing affidavit of Adam Gillmore was made was at the time and still is a Judge of said Court, and his name subscribed thereto is his own signature; and that Almon H. Holley, before whom the foregoing certifi- cate of Samuel H. Holley, Luther Newcomb Robert Holley & Abraham Gage was sworn to, was at the time a Justice of the peace for said County, his name subscribed thereto is his own signature.
And I further certify, that it appears to said Court that the said Samuel H. Holley, Luther Newcomb, Robert Holley & Abraham Gage are residents in Bristol in said County and respectable & credible persons, and that there is no clergy- man residing in the Town of Hespelon in said County.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 12th. day of June 1823.
Sam. Swift.

We the undersigned Abraham Gaze Luther Newcomb Robert Holley & Saml H. Holley of Bristol in the County of Adelson & State of Vermont certify that we have for many years been acquainted with Adam Gilmore late of said Bristol but now of Ripton in said County and That we believe said Gilmore to be about seventy years of age & that he is reputed to have been a soldier of the Revolution & we concur in that opinion and that we believe said Gilmore an honest man Bristol June 4. 1833
Saml H. Holley Luther Newcomb Robert Holley Abraham Gaze
Adelson County ss Bristol June 5. 1833
Personally appeared the above named Abraham Gaze Luther Newcomb Robert Holley & Saml H. Holley known me as credible witnesses and made oath to the truth of the above certificate
before me Wm H. Holley Just Peace

STATE OF VERMONT, Addison County ss.
I, EDWARD D. BARBER, Clerk of the County Court for the County of Addison, do hereby certify that the annexed documents contain the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Adam Gilmore for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 10 th day of July A. D.
1832
Edward D. Barber Clerk